Join or Die: The Powerful Symbol of Colonial Unity and Resistance

Join or Die Cartoon

*Created by Ben Franklin to try to unite the colonies towards fighting the French. This is later used in the American Revolution.

The Join or Die cartoon is a political cartoon created by Benjamin Franklin during the French and Indian War in 1754. The cartoon depicts a fragmented snake divided into eight sections, each representing one of the colonies in America. The phrase “Join, or Die” is written below the snake, urging the colonies to come together and unite against the threat of French and Native American attacks.

The cartoon was initially published in Franklin’s Pennsylvania Gazette and was widely circulated throughout the colonies. It was aimed at urging the colonies to unite to fight against the French and their Native American allies who were occupying land in the Ohio River Valley. The Join or Die cartoon is a striking visual representation of the importance of unity, and it quickly became a symbol of colonial identity.

The significance of the Join or Die cartoon extends beyond the French and Indian War. The cartoon was later used as a rallying cry for the American Revolution, with its call for unity and resistance against tyranny and oppression. The snake, segmented and fragmented in the original cartoon, was later depicted as a unified entity, a symbol of the unified thirteen colonies that fought for independence from England.

In conclusion, Franklin’s Join or Die cartoon played an essential role in the formation of American identity and the fight for independence. The cartoon is a powerful reminder of the importance of unity, and its message continues to resonate with Americans to this day.

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